Hair curling device and method



Feb. 3, 1959 E. D. ANDERSON HAIR CURLING DEVICE AND METHOD Filed April4, 1955 Fig.5

Fig.2

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ELIZABETH DUX ANDERSON ATTORNEY United States Patent "ice 2,871,865 HAIRCURLING DEVICE AND METHOD Elizabeth Dux Anderson, Northwood, Del.

Application April 4, 1955, Serial No. 499,057

15 Claims. (Cl. 132-7) This invention relates to a device for curlinghair and more particularly to means for preparing and setting pin curls.

One object of the invention is to provide a novel and improved devicefor preparing and setting curls of hair which is dry, or wet with wateror waving solution, or which is otherwise being set permanently orsemipermanen tly so that the use of bob pins or other means of fasteningthe hair is not required. r

A particular object of this invention is. to provide a facile means forpreparing pin curl since the device is so constructed that curls areautomatically formed when the combination of the device and envelopedhair as per the process of my invention is allowed to come to thenatural or rest position of the device.

Further objects will become apparent from the ensuing description of theinvention and from the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a view of one embodiment of the invention in extendedposition enveloping hair to be curled;

Figure 2 is similar to Figure 1 except that the device is shown in anopen, extended position prior to placing hair therein;

Figure 3 is similar to Figure 1 except that the combination of thedevice and enveloped hair as per the process of my invention is shown inthe rest or ended and natural position of the device alone which thecombination spontaneously assumes on the release of the forming forcenecessary to achieve the' requisite operative association of the deviceand hair as per the process of my invention;

Figure 4 is a view of another embodiment of my invention wherein thedevice is shown in an extended, open position somewhat similar to Figure2;

t Figure 5 shows the embodiment of Figure 4 in combination with hair asin Figure 3 Figure 6 is a view of another embodiment of the device 'ofthis invention in extended, open'position somewhat similar to Figure 2;r r

Figure 7 shows still another embodiment of my inventive device in theopen, extended position somewhat similar to Figure 2; r

Figure 8 shows the device of Figure 7 in the natural or rest, that is,curled, position; r

' Figure 9 is a view similar to, Figures 3 and 5 in position on'the head-of-a subject showing the combination with the necessary operativeassociation of hair and the new device after the'forming pressure hasbeen released and the desired curl corresponding to the natural or restform of the device has been achieved spontaneously by the combination,whereby on standing thehair is so formed semi-permanently, retainingsaid form in itself after removal of the device from operativeassociation therewith, that is, whereby the hair is semi-permanently I2,871,865 Patented Feb. 3, 1959 to Figures 1, 2, and 3. This comprisesin combination a spiral member A, which is flexible and elastic andwhose relaxed or rest position is in the form of a double spiral asshown in Figure -3, reticulate material, thread-like members B which canextend from one side of the spiral member to the other as in Figure 1 orcan be weblike as in Figure 2, desirably provided a integral parts of Aand designed as means for securely engaging hair in the device in thenecessary close association therewith; and, if desired, clamps C,desirably provided as integral parts of A, whose functions are to aid insecurely engaging hair in the device and lockingly to engage each sideof the double spiral A to the other thereby forming in combination withthe hair a single spiral.

The entire device is constructed of a plastic, metal, rubber, or thelike, and desirably the former, with suifi-' cient rigidity andelasticity to be uncoiled and coiled repeatedly without changing thebasic structure of the spiral in the natural or rest position thereofalone or in combination with the hair. The device can also have for theWeber net materials, whose function is to encircle the hair, similarcomponents fibrous in character, or fibers both natural or synthetic, orsuitable combinations of these. For example member A of Figures 1, 2,and 3 can be composed of a metallic, springlike core surrounded by asoft plastic sheath, or it can be composed entirely of metal.

In operation the device can be opened, held op'enby a holder and used asfollows with reference to Figures 1, 2 and 3, for example: (1) Using onehand vuncoil the spiral to a more linear position; (2) Open the doublemember A by releasing clamps C to the position shown in Figure 2; (3)With the other hand select the strands of dry, damp, or wet hair to becurled and place them in the open, extended device; (4) Close the deviceand lock each side of member A to the'other with clamps C; (5) Removethe hands and allow the curl to be formed spontaneously as thecombination of member A and the hair to be curled returns to thenaturalor rest position of member A; (6) If desired, the completed curl, thatis, the combination of the device and enveloped hair,

can be pinned or otherwise held, for example by means of curled in theabove manner.

After setting, which can for example vary from a few minutes to severalhours and which can be accomplished chemically, by heating, by drying ofdamp or wet hair,

or in other ways, the device is removed from the thus curled hair,clamps C, if any, are opened and the device is pulled from the curl,uncurling and opening if desired,

whereupon the hair returns spontaneously to the shapeformed therein byoperative association with member A,

that is, the natural shape of member A, thereby achieving the desiredshape in the hair.

Figures 4 and 5 illustrate a variation of the device of my inventionwhich is particularly suitable for construction from metal. Member D isa flexible spiral spring somewhat similar in function and use to memberA lllustrated in Figures 1, 2, and 3. To member D areattached reticulateclamps E, preferably spring loaded, and illustrated in Figure 4 in theopen position. In operation this embodiment of the invention isuncurled, the clamps E are opened, hair is placed along the extendedlength of the spring member D, clamps E are closed, and the hands areremoved from the device and hair. The combination of the device and hairthen returns spontaneously to the natural or restposition therebyforming a spiral curl and providing a means for maintaining the hair inthe desired curled position while setting is in progress.

Figure 6 illustrates yet .another variation of this invention whereinthe members F are composed of fairly limp plastic and are equipped withhooks G about which a stretched rubber band or other elastic material isplaced, desirably in part an integral part of the device, when in thedesired linear position on the hair. On removing the hands thecombination of the device and hair automatically assumes the spiral formwhich the device alone assumes in the absence of hair on the release offorming pressure.

Figures 7 and 8 illustrate still another form of the device of thisinvention wherein the entire device consists of a multiperforatedtubular member which is shaped ina flat spiral and which has alongitudinal slit along the inside edge of the spiral for the purpose ofpermitting the opening of the tube in the extended position as shown inFigure 7. In operation the spiral is stretched out to a linear position,opened up along the split H, the hair is inserted along the lineardimension, the tube is then closed containing the hair therein, and thecombination of the device andhair is allowed to return spontaneously tothe natural or rest position, as shown in Figure 8, thereby imparting tothe hair the desired spiral form corresponding to the natural or restform of my spiral device.

Figure 9 illustrates the device of my invention on the head of asubject. This indicates also how the device can be pinned close to thehead, if desired, and shows thenecessary operative association of hairand the new device.

In all these variations of my invention, the material or materials ofconstruction can be plastic, metal, rubber, or the like, alone or incombination. Thus Figure 1 illustrates an entirely plastic device, whileFigure 2 shows a member A composed of a core K of metal and a sheath ofplastic which is also the material of members B and C. Figure 4 isillustrated to be entirely metal as is Figure 5, while Figure 6 is acombination of plastic, rubber, and fibrous netting. Figures 7 and 8 arecomposed of suitable plastic, for example, nylon. All these variationscan be made in many sizes and/or number of turnsof curl as well asstrength of spiral member so that wide adaptability to size and shape ofpin curls as Well as to styles of coilfure is possible. Thus theinvention is generic to hair of any length, that is, long hair or shorthair, to hair which is naturally curly, artificially curled, orstraight, or to hair which is fine, medium, or coarse in texture.

It should be especially noted that many other variations in my inventivedevice are possible besides those described here for purposes ofillustration. Thus, for instance, referring to Figures 4 and the spiralmember can-be on the inside of the spiral in the natural or restposition rather than on the outside as indicated. Furthermore the spiralmembers of Figures 1, 2, and 3 can have only one part while the otherside can be merely a limp member attached through clamps C; in thismanner the device can be so constructed that only hairholding members Bare visible when the combination of the device and hair are in operativeassociation on the head. Also in a variation similar to Figure 6 anextended plastic or metal spiral can be inserted in a suitable slotprovided for that purpose after the hair retaining portion has alreadybeen installed on the hair so that the combination of the device andhair will automatically assurne the spiral form which the device alonewould assume in the absence of hair. In a further variation hair clipsresembling those of Figures 4 and 5 whose purpose is to aid in holdingthe hair more firmly can be used as integral parts of the variations ofFigures 1, 2, 3, or 6, for example, to supplement the hair retainingfeatures shown.

The most important features of my curl-forming device are the spiralmember characterized by its flexi- 'bility so that it can readily beopened to a much less spiral form and means for securely engaging hairwith the said spiral member in open position and retaining the hair inoperative association with the spiral member upon release of the formingpressure whereby the combination of the device and enveloped hairreturns spontaneously to the natural or rest position of the devicealone, whereby the hair is semi-permanently curled in the desired spiralform corresponding to the natural or rest form of my spiral device.

The most important features of my process are engaging hair firmly inlinear association with the extended form of my device and allowing theresulting combination of hair and the device to return spontaneously tothe spiral configuration corresponding to the natural or rest form ofthe device itself whereby on standing the hair is formedsemipermanently, retaining said form in itself after removal of thedevice from operative association therewith, that is, whereby the hairis semipermanently curled in the desired spiral form corresponding tothe natural or rest form of the spiral device.

My invention, is thus a device for curling and setting hair which deviceis reticulate or weblike in character permitting fluids to pass throughthe device. It comprises a spiral-forming member and reticulatematerial, and it has a natural andan unnatural form, the natural formbeing a closed, substantially spiral, at-rest, and tight form and theunnatural form being an extended, substantially non-spiral formspontaneously returning to said natural form. The extended or unnaturalform has two states orconfigurations: the completely open state in whichthe device receives the hair and the folded configuration in which thehair is enveloped just prior to the return to .the spiral form. As shownin the figures, the spiral-forming means may be positioned in the centeror at the edges of the device. The process of my invention is curlingand setting hair wherein thehair is placed in the extended, open form ofa device having a spiralforming member and, coacting with said member,reticulate material to receive and to encircle said hair, closing saidreticulate material about said hair, and allowing said member to returnto its natural, at-rest spiral configuration. The reticulate nature ofthe device permits passage of fluid to and from the hair within or heldby the device.

As many widely different embodiments of this invention can be madewithout departing from the spirit and scope thereof, it is to beunderstood that the invention is not limited to the specific embodimentshereof, except as defined in the appendedclaims.

I claim:

1. A web-like, elongate device for curling and setting hair in thepresence of fluid which device comprises a spiral-forming means and areticulate member, said spiralforming means causing said device toassume a natural, closed spiral form when at rest and to returnresiliently to said closed spiral form when the said device has beenforcibly opened to assume an unnatural, extended form and then has beenreleased, said spiral-forming means being substantially coextensive withthe said device and the said reticulate member permitting passage offluid to and from said hair.

2. A device in accordance with claim 1 wherein the spiral-forming meansand the reticulate member are integral.

3. A device in accordance with claim 1 provided with clamping means.

4. A device in accordance with claim 1 provided with means for fasteningthe device in curled position.

5. A device in accordance with claim 1 in which the spiral-forming meansis positioned longitudinally and centrally in said device.

6. A device in accordance with claim 1 in which a spiral-forming meansis positioned longitudinally at the edges of said device.

7. A device in accordance with claim 1 in which a portion thereof ismade from a plastic material.

8. A device in accordance with claim 1 in which a portion thereof ismade from a metal.

9. A device in accordance with claim 1 in which a portion thereof ismade from rubber.

10. A device in accordance with claim 1 in which a portion thereof ismade from a plastic material and the remainder thereof is made from ametal.

11. A web-like, elongate device for curling and setting hair comprisinga spiral-forming means and a reticulate member, said spiral-formingmeans causing said device to assume a natural, closed spiral form whenat rest and to return resiliently to said closed spiral form when thedevice has been forcibly opened to assume an unnatural, extended formand then has been released, said spiralforming means being substantiallycoextensive with the said device, the said unnatural, extended formbeing sub stantially a non-spiral form having an open configuration toreceive said hair and a folded configuration to envelop said hair. I

12. A process of curling and setting hair wherein hair is placed in theextended, open form of a web-like device having a natural, at-restspiral configuration and having a spiral-forming member and having,coacting with said member, reticulate material to receive and toencircle said References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATESPATENTS 1,643,035 Stahl Sept. 20, 1927 2,166,386 Auster July 18, 19392,300,437 Solomon Nov. 3, 1942 2,600,730 Brothers June 17, 19522,654,372 Stoyanoff Oct. 6, 1953 2,729,217 Grasso et a1. Jan. 3, 1956FOREIGN PATENTS 587,370 France Jan. 16, 1925 453,298 Germany Dec. 8,1927

